Original First World War British .303 Mk VII cartridge, manufactured in 1917 by the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich Arsenal, London. The headstamp reads R 17 L VII, identifying the manufacturer as the Royal Laboratory (RL), Woolwich, with 17 indicating 1917 manufacture and VII identifying the cartridge as the British Mark VII pattern. The Mk VII was the standard British .303 service ball cartridge throughout the First World War and was extensively used with the SMLE/Lee-Enfield rifle, Lewis gun and Vickers machine gun. This example retains its brass case and distinctive silver-coloured/cupro-nickel jacketed projectile. The headstamp remains particularly crisp and readable, giving the cartridge excellent collector and display appeal. Manufacturer: Royal Laboratory, Woolwich ArsenalHeadstamp: R 17 L VIICalibre: .303 BritishType: Ball Mk VIIDate: 1917Country: Great BritainPeriod: WWI INERT – historical collector/display item only.
